This study investigated the
utility of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to document associations
between homeless status and weight while estimating the prevalence of youth
homelessness in three regions. A school-based survey, the YRBS includes youths
who have been difficult to involve in past research.
Analysis of 2011 YRBS data
produced population-weighted estimates of youth homelessness prevalence
separately for Connecticut, Delaware, and Philadelphia. Public high school
students anonymously reported their housing status, height, and weight on the
YRBS. Height and weight were converted to body mass index (BMI)
percentile-for-age scores.
Homelessness was associated with higher BMI
percentile scores for youths compared with nonhomeless peers. Associations
between BMI percentile and different forms of homelessness (homeless with
family, unaccompanied homeless without family) were explored at each site.
Estimates of one-month homelessness prevalence ranged from 3.9 percent to 5.9
percent at each site. Homelessness, especially family homelessness, is
associated with risk for higher BMI.
The YRBS is an informative tool for
estimating the prevalence of youth homelessness, expanding on what is known
through other, more commonly used methods.
Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/PNG1LL
By: Cutuli JJ, Steinway C, Perlman S, Herbers JE, Eyrich-Garg KM, Willard J.
- J. J. Cutuli, PhD, is assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts & Sciences, Rutgers University, 345 Armitage Hall, 311 North Fifth Street, Camden, NJ 08102; Caren Steinway, MSW, MPH, is clinical research coordinator, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Staci Perlman, PhD, is assistant professor, Human Development & Family Studies, University of Delaware, Newark. Janette E. Herbers, PhD, LP, is assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA. Karin M. Eyrich-Garg, PhD, LCSW, is associate professor, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia. Joe Willard, MS, is vice president of policy and advocacy, People's Emergency Center, Philadelphia.
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